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JDH informs Thiselton-Dyer [WTTD] that the weather on Skye has been fine & he took the opportunity to explore more. Describes the island geography as being a bog with some remarkable rocks, a mountain & a lakelet. JDH describes the Quiraing, & vegetation he found there: Sileni acaulis, Arabis petraea, Oxyria & Antennaria. JDH says the Storr rock is similar but less remarkable & takes a long time to get there. Vegetation there consists of long grass, Eleocharis, Carex & heath-clumps. They took a different return journey to Portree. He also describes visiting Loch Arnish & Cuillin. JDH describes ascending a mountain & having stunning views of Rum & Eigg, Mull, Ben Cruachan & Argyle round to Sutherland. Gives vivid description of the valley & pitch black rocks. Describes the journey back to the hotel & the fact that Mrs [Hyacinth] Hooker walked & climbed most of it. JDH observed Miocene & Lias period beds between the lava beds. The area reminds him of the Cantal & Auvergne regions in France, as well as volcanic islands such as Auckland, Campbell & Kerguelen. Describes England & Scotland holding the key to the geology of Skye & the Hebrides much as New Zealand would to other southern isles: as JDH advised Sir James Hector. Wonders when his discovery of fossil wood in Kerguelen Island will be noted. Mrs Lyell with her children, Miss Lyell & Mr Symonds have been with them but have now left for Gair Loch [Gairloch] where JDH & Mrs Hooker will follow. JDH will be at Inverness the next day & will arrive at Aviemore on Saturday. He will then head to Stirling to visit his sister, an old college friend & Indian friend. Next stop will be Sir J Colville's near Dunfermline before heading home.